Obverse

Indistinct bust of the Virgin holding the medallion of Christ before her. Sigla: μ.-θ : Μ[(ήτη)ρ] Θ[(εο)ῦ]. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of four lines. Border of dots.

σφροαρχηεπισκ..μηλιτ.

Σωφρό[ν(ιος)] ἀρχηεπίσκ[οπ(ος)] Μηλίτ(ου).

Translation

Σωφρόνιος ἀρχηεπίσκοπος Μηλίτου.

Sophronios, archbishop of Miletos.

Commentary

This famous ancient city kept its name into the ninth century when it still constituted the center of a fiscal perception unit (διοίκησις); but the city closed itself inside fortifications, mainly in the old theater, and took a new name, Palatia (modern Balat), due to its spectacular antiquities. It was a bishopric as early as the fourth century, had become archbishopric by 538, and became metropolis in the twelfth century. See Laurent, Corpus V/1, 543; Brandes, Städte, 89-92; ODB II, 1372-73.